Readers,
I am pleased to finally be able to say that i have passed my driving test at the 5th time of asking.
It was a stressful, painful and expensive three years but the elation i feel right now means that it was thoroughly worth it and I would like to share some of the wisdom that I have learnt from my three years as a learner driver per chance that it may save you time, money and the embarassment of not passing the driving test first time or at least within the first three goes (it starts getting ridiculous after three).
My first piece of advice is to start learning as soon as you turn 17 or can afford it. Do not delay it for any reason if you can afford to learn financially and actually want a license rather than believe in not driving to save the planet or for other personal reasons. The simple reason being that your mind is a lot sharper to being able to learn new skills when you are younger and by delaying it will only mean you have to take more lessons to reach the same level of skill required to pass the test.
My second piece of advice is to book your theory test within a few weeks of starting your driving lessons. Do not get ready for your practical before booking your theory! There are two reasons for this:
i) I am not fully convinced you can even really be ready for your practical unless you know your theory because while 90% of theory is a load of common sense anyway - the 10% relating to road signs and road markings is impossible to live without.
ii) there can be a waiting list to do the theory and so you might end up doing your practical 3 months after you feel ready because you wanted to wait to feel ready for it before even doing your theory!
This would mean you continue three months of lessons while ready for the test wasting money on lessons you dont need or going into the test not having had regular lessons leading into it for the prvious three months. Neither of these is ideal.
(For anyone who has booked a theory test and would like any help preparing for it, feel free to email me on moostee90@hotmail.com and i will be happy to assist as much as possible - i spent 90 quid in a month on three tests to get the job done and hate the dsa fleecing money of learner motorists so happy to try to help our battle against the common enemy!)
iii) Be pro-active! Do not think that your one hour lesson a week for 6 months will get you where you need to be on its own. When walking the streets or sitting on busses or sitting in cars being driven, be observant! Pay attention to road signs, road markings and road layouts. Make it so that seeing speed limit signs, one way steeet signs, no entry signs, bend in the road signs etc etc are alllll second nature for you. Learn to look out for road markings and road signs telling you which lane goes straight ahead and which bend to the right or left. Chances are your instructor will not spoon feed this part to you and will kind of expect you to 'get it' yourself.
iv) Know the syllabus - there are only set things you have to do on the driving test and you should know all of them so there are no surprises. Be completely confident on performing ALL the things on the syllabus so nothing is left to chance. Driving for 40 minutes when you have nothing to concentrate on except for the road ahead should mean you do your best drive because after you pass your test - the road ahead will be mixed in with your thoughts about what you will eat for dinner, what your favorite football team might do in the match tonight etc etc. Also, the manner in which you drive during lessons and the test is the safest way. If you cannot go 40 minutes without producing one major error when driving in this prescribed manner, how do you expect to cope when you are left to your own devices?
v) Be confident. If you are not confident, then why do you want to take the test? If you fail, you have wasted time and money and if you pass - then you are allowed to drive on your own. If you are not a good driver, then why do you want to drive on your own putting yourself and others at risk? I felt like a good driver for around 6 months now and feel the biggest blessing was failing my first test 2 years ago - i did not know how to drive well back then and didnt know how bad i was till near my second test.
finally, if anyone would like any further thoughts or advice on their driving test, feel free to drop me a line. It is something that proved the cause of great distress for me for a long time and it would be an honour for me if i could help relieve the distress of not knowing how to drive from others.
That is all for today
Peace
Sunday 30 August 2009
Saturday 22 August 2009
nightly ablution
Readers,
First of all i would like to confess that one of the habits i chose for myself has kind of been left aside for two weeks. The habit in question is unfortunately the habit of reading and the reason this has happened is that i was finding large parts of the book i was reading very boring and was forcing myself to read.
In addition to this, i have been reading stuff online... but i know i need to re-ignite this habit at some stage soon - ideally by picking up something i will actually enjoy reading as well as benefit from educationally.
As many of you will also know, ramadan is starting either today or tomorrow subject to the sighting of the moon. Therefore it is a month of great opportunity to have our sins wiped out and replaced with good deeds and our bad habits to be replaced with good habits.
I dont believe i am capable of reforming my whole character through ramadan which is why i have opted for the one small change every 10 days.
In line with this new ideology, the next habit i will incorporate is the habit of performing the ablution before sleeping every night for the next 10 nights.
The benefit of going to sleep in ablution is that God rewards the person who does this as though he has stayed awake the whole night worshipping Allah.
I will be back in 10 days to add a new habit
by the way, the challenge of adding quality rather than merely routine to the habit of praying has been reasonably successful - but i think its really important to add complete isolation to the equation... praying with a closed door and not being able to see things from the corner of your eyes like your laptop or mobile phone would make a massive diffeence.
i need to look into this in more detail. The important thing is recognising the problems and slowly working towards solutions which will last a lifetime insha allah rather than try to do every life change in one day and fall flat on your face within a few days and then bein unable to make any changes at all.
That is all for today
Peace
First of all i would like to confess that one of the habits i chose for myself has kind of been left aside for two weeks. The habit in question is unfortunately the habit of reading and the reason this has happened is that i was finding large parts of the book i was reading very boring and was forcing myself to read.
In addition to this, i have been reading stuff online... but i know i need to re-ignite this habit at some stage soon - ideally by picking up something i will actually enjoy reading as well as benefit from educationally.
As many of you will also know, ramadan is starting either today or tomorrow subject to the sighting of the moon. Therefore it is a month of great opportunity to have our sins wiped out and replaced with good deeds and our bad habits to be replaced with good habits.
I dont believe i am capable of reforming my whole character through ramadan which is why i have opted for the one small change every 10 days.
In line with this new ideology, the next habit i will incorporate is the habit of performing the ablution before sleeping every night for the next 10 nights.
The benefit of going to sleep in ablution is that God rewards the person who does this as though he has stayed awake the whole night worshipping Allah.
I will be back in 10 days to add a new habit
by the way, the challenge of adding quality rather than merely routine to the habit of praying has been reasonably successful - but i think its really important to add complete isolation to the equation... praying with a closed door and not being able to see things from the corner of your eyes like your laptop or mobile phone would make a massive diffeence.
i need to look into this in more detail. The important thing is recognising the problems and slowly working towards solutions which will last a lifetime insha allah rather than try to do every life change in one day and fall flat on your face within a few days and then bein unable to make any changes at all.
That is all for today
Peace
Tuesday 11 August 2009
quality of habits
Readers,
The last couple of months i have found myself reflecting on the quality of how i carry out my habits rather than be pleased that i am merely routinely carrying them out.
I have come to find that while i am generally happy, I want to add three small habits to help improve the quality of my prayers.
i) When at home - have a separate item of clothing to change into which is kept only for praying. It takes 2 minutes to change my clothes before praying but it is guaranteed to help concentration in prayer because you have mentally taken a much more positive approach to the etiquette and importance of the task that is about to be performed. When at work, at least make the effort to roll my sleeves back down and do the buttons so that my arms are not exposed and i am dressed smartly.
ii) Apply a little perfume before the prayer.
iii) As a shi'ite, i believe it is recommended to wear a ring when praying so keep a ring inside the prayer mat at home and make the effort to put my ring back on my finger after wudhu at work.
I believe these three simple things will help me focus better on the gravity and importance of prayer and provide the platform for me to perform them in a manner which it should be performed in.
As always, the challenge is for 10 days after which time i try to add another one.
Peace
The last couple of months i have found myself reflecting on the quality of how i carry out my habits rather than be pleased that i am merely routinely carrying them out.
I have come to find that while i am generally happy, I want to add three small habits to help improve the quality of my prayers.
i) When at home - have a separate item of clothing to change into which is kept only for praying. It takes 2 minutes to change my clothes before praying but it is guaranteed to help concentration in prayer because you have mentally taken a much more positive approach to the etiquette and importance of the task that is about to be performed. When at work, at least make the effort to roll my sleeves back down and do the buttons so that my arms are not exposed and i am dressed smartly.
ii) Apply a little perfume before the prayer.
iii) As a shi'ite, i believe it is recommended to wear a ring when praying so keep a ring inside the prayer mat at home and make the effort to put my ring back on my finger after wudhu at work.
I believe these three simple things will help me focus better on the gravity and importance of prayer and provide the platform for me to perform them in a manner which it should be performed in.
As always, the challenge is for 10 days after which time i try to add another one.
Peace
Tuesday 28 July 2009
weight training
Readers,
I have not posted for quite a long time for two main reasons:
i) I fell sick around 2 and a bit weeks ago when i was due to post and as a result couldnt even maintain the majority of the habits i had already formed or gone some way to forming let alone think about which new habit i want to take on.
ii) shortly after recovering, i took a 10 day vacation to my motherland - India. Being an indian meant i always intended to visit one day and as the way life works out - it proved an excellent vacation because i also found that special person over there, visited the site of my grandmothers grave and got my teeth cleaned for the average price of a haircut a barber in london would charge - probably even less.
again while on vacation, due to the nature of my accomodation and personal circumstances - i was unable to maintain the habits as strictly as i would have liked - and some were ignored altogether.
However, i am back in london.... back healthy (to a reasonable enough degree) - and i thought it is as good a time as any to revitalise my blog.
the first thing i would like to say is that even though the last three weeks or so have seen me fail to perform these habits precisely in terms of time and even doing... i still consider all the things gone through as my habits and will work tirelessly to keep them embedded into my life.
secondly, it is unrealistic to go through life without failing in some routines on occasion when the unexpected happens... it is life - we are not robots... and i have learnt to become a lot more forgiving of my perfectionist nature.
finally... the next habit i will incorporate is mild weight training three times a week - this will be done on tuesdays thursdays and saturdays.
this will complement my abs training on mon, weds and fris.
sunday is day of rest. :-)
this will keep me healthy and happy.... health is wealth after all right... and looking good is feeling good.
ok finally... since i have been out the loop for so long, im going to make a quick list of habits previously mentioned so i have a checklist without having to read every post to remember..
i) prioritising subh namaz over sleep
ii) prioritising zuhr and asr namaz over television and internet usage
iii) prioritising maghrib and isha namaz over television and internet usage
iv) hoovering the house when necessary up to twice a week (wednesdays and sundays)
v) sunnat wudhoo instead of only obligatory one
vi) quran and translation - 10 verses a day
vii) brush twice a day
viii) shower before breakfast
ix)shave three times a week (mons, weds, sats)
x) polish shoes on tuesdays
xi) gather clothes and wash on fridays
xii) abs exercise on mons, weds, fris
xiii) reading every day (try at least 15 mins or one chapter)
xiv) eat an apple every day
xv) weight training
scrapped ones:
i) sleeping before midnight - one day :-)
ii) revising for theory driving test - passed it so can focus on the practical.
ok that is all from me for today
peace
probably wont post till the 11th august
watch this space.
I have not posted for quite a long time for two main reasons:
i) I fell sick around 2 and a bit weeks ago when i was due to post and as a result couldnt even maintain the majority of the habits i had already formed or gone some way to forming let alone think about which new habit i want to take on.
ii) shortly after recovering, i took a 10 day vacation to my motherland - India. Being an indian meant i always intended to visit one day and as the way life works out - it proved an excellent vacation because i also found that special person over there, visited the site of my grandmothers grave and got my teeth cleaned for the average price of a haircut a barber in london would charge - probably even less.
again while on vacation, due to the nature of my accomodation and personal circumstances - i was unable to maintain the habits as strictly as i would have liked - and some were ignored altogether.
However, i am back in london.... back healthy (to a reasonable enough degree) - and i thought it is as good a time as any to revitalise my blog.
the first thing i would like to say is that even though the last three weeks or so have seen me fail to perform these habits precisely in terms of time and even doing... i still consider all the things gone through as my habits and will work tirelessly to keep them embedded into my life.
secondly, it is unrealistic to go through life without failing in some routines on occasion when the unexpected happens... it is life - we are not robots... and i have learnt to become a lot more forgiving of my perfectionist nature.
finally... the next habit i will incorporate is mild weight training three times a week - this will be done on tuesdays thursdays and saturdays.
this will complement my abs training on mon, weds and fris.
sunday is day of rest. :-)
this will keep me healthy and happy.... health is wealth after all right... and looking good is feeling good.
ok finally... since i have been out the loop for so long, im going to make a quick list of habits previously mentioned so i have a checklist without having to read every post to remember..
i) prioritising subh namaz over sleep
ii) prioritising zuhr and asr namaz over television and internet usage
iii) prioritising maghrib and isha namaz over television and internet usage
iv) hoovering the house when necessary up to twice a week (wednesdays and sundays)
v) sunnat wudhoo instead of only obligatory one
vi) quran and translation - 10 verses a day
vii) brush twice a day
viii) shower before breakfast
ix)shave three times a week (mons, weds, sats)
x) polish shoes on tuesdays
xi) gather clothes and wash on fridays
xii) abs exercise on mons, weds, fris
xiii) reading every day (try at least 15 mins or one chapter)
xiv) eat an apple every day
xv) weight training
scrapped ones:
i) sleeping before midnight - one day :-)
ii) revising for theory driving test - passed it so can focus on the practical.
ok that is all from me for today
peace
probably wont post till the 11th august
watch this space.
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Apples
Readers,
For a long time i have intended to incorporate the habit of eating five portions of fruit a day. However, i have always been too lazy to actually do it. It is for this reason that i am going to incorporate the eating of a single fruit a day.
I am going to start with the apple.
After all - an apple a day keeps the doctor away right? :-)
We will see how that works out.
My habit for the next 10 days is to eat one apple every day.
That is all
Peace
For a long time i have intended to incorporate the habit of eating five portions of fruit a day. However, i have always been too lazy to actually do it. It is for this reason that i am going to incorporate the eating of a single fruit a day.
I am going to start with the apple.
After all - an apple a day keeps the doctor away right? :-)
We will see how that works out.
My habit for the next 10 days is to eat one apple every day.
That is all
Peace
Friday 26 June 2009
'Bonus Post'
Readers,
I am pleased to inform you that i passed my theory driving test today.
I would also like to say that it was not using the advice previously offered up... although most of it was pretty spot on.
As usual i blitzed the multiple choice element of the test securing 49 out of the 50 marks on offer... and scored 58 out of the 75 on offer for the hazard perception.
The main purpose of this post is to make two points:
i) we never fail at anything. we may succeed in discovering several more ways not to do something than we would have liked in an ideal world but we never fail - not in the truest sense of the word - unless of course we give up.
ii) if any of my readers are going to undertake the theory driving test in the UK and are unsure of what to expect in the hazard perception element of the driving test - feel free to contact me and i will try to do my bit to help you through.
I dont charge for this 'service' mainly because other than my own experience... i dont know how well it will work.. but also.. because theres a credit crunch.. and the government is stealing peoples money by making them sit the stupid hazard perception element of the test in the first place... and i would like to do the humane thing and save people money - not make them pay a little more now to potentially save money later!
That is all.
Peace be with you all.
I am pleased to inform you that i passed my theory driving test today.
I would also like to say that it was not using the advice previously offered up... although most of it was pretty spot on.
As usual i blitzed the multiple choice element of the test securing 49 out of the 50 marks on offer... and scored 58 out of the 75 on offer for the hazard perception.
The main purpose of this post is to make two points:
i) we never fail at anything. we may succeed in discovering several more ways not to do something than we would have liked in an ideal world but we never fail - not in the truest sense of the word - unless of course we give up.
ii) if any of my readers are going to undertake the theory driving test in the UK and are unsure of what to expect in the hazard perception element of the driving test - feel free to contact me and i will try to do my bit to help you through.
I dont charge for this 'service' mainly because other than my own experience... i dont know how well it will work.. but also.. because theres a credit crunch.. and the government is stealing peoples money by making them sit the stupid hazard perception element of the test in the first place... and i would like to do the humane thing and save people money - not make them pay a little more now to potentially save money later!
That is all.
Peace be with you all.
Sunday 21 June 2009
Washing
Readers,
Another 10 days have passed by seamlessly quickly and it is time to incorporate a new habit into my life.
What i have come to find is that i have added around 4 habits which i have not published in the last two weeks or so and for fear of them fading out and disrupting the whole progress made thus far - i will formalise them even though they are not necessarily starting from the moment they are published on this site.
The next habit i am formalising is the habit to collect my vests and socks every day and wash them together on friday to ensure that they do not go missing, are always clean and in plentiful supply.
The last habit I incorporated was a 'religious habit'.
This one i would classify as a 'hygeine based habit'.
The next one in 10 days will be a 'health/diet based habit'.
I have already incorporated a habit to spend 15 mins every day reading and not sure if i can commit to any further 'education' based habits which will not burden me beyond what i can do without breaking down and may wait a few months before adding something to that front.
As for random miscellaneous habits - they will be added as and when a need arises for them at no pre set regular intervals...
That is all for today
Peace
Another 10 days have passed by seamlessly quickly and it is time to incorporate a new habit into my life.
What i have come to find is that i have added around 4 habits which i have not published in the last two weeks or so and for fear of them fading out and disrupting the whole progress made thus far - i will formalise them even though they are not necessarily starting from the moment they are published on this site.
The next habit i am formalising is the habit to collect my vests and socks every day and wash them together on friday to ensure that they do not go missing, are always clean and in plentiful supply.
The last habit I incorporated was a 'religious habit'.
This one i would classify as a 'hygeine based habit'.
The next one in 10 days will be a 'health/diet based habit'.
I have already incorporated a habit to spend 15 mins every day reading and not sure if i can commit to any further 'education' based habits which will not burden me beyond what i can do without breaking down and may wait a few months before adding something to that front.
As for random miscellaneous habits - they will be added as and when a need arises for them at no pre set regular intervals...
That is all for today
Peace
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